Americans' credit card debt hits a record $1 trillion | CNN Business
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Americans’ credit card debt levels have just notched a new, but undesirable, milestone: For the first time ever, they’ve surpassed $1 trillion, according to data released Tuesday by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Americans’ credit card debt levels have just notched a new, but undesirable, milestone: For the first time ever, they’ve surpassed $1 trillion, according to data released Tuesday by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

  • MicroWave@lemmy.worldOP
    271·
    1 year ago

    You should probably still find out your credit score/rating though, especially since it’s free. Identity theft is a real issue, like someone opening a line of credit in your name and fucking up your rating when you actually need it for something (buying a car or house, or anything that requires a credit check).

      • edric@lemm.ee
        4·
        1 year ago

        Another case for getting a credit card is the rewards and protection. I always pay on time and never have to pay interest, so I only gain from cashback rewards and don’t lose anything by using a credit card. Banks are also very strict with fraud (it’s their money you spend before paying it off after all), and they will side with you if your card gets used to pay for something you did not authorize. Lastly, it’s becoming a hassle to pay cash nowadays with most establishments going cashless.

        As long as you always pay it off on time, there aren’t much downsides to maintaining a credit card, regardless if you care about your credit score/rating or not.

      • Very_Bad_Janet@kbin.social
        3·
        1 year ago

        You can also put a freeze on your credit via the big three credit agencies. That would prevent someone from opening ip a credit card or taking out a loan in your name.

    • henfredemars@infosec.pub
      2·
      1 year ago

      You’re right, but it’s a shame the system is designed to punish people who don’t have an interest in participating at this time. Fraud should be the responsibility of the credit card companies not the users.